Library

BACKGROUND NOTE: Material on this website produced by the MLHS before August 2015 must be taken in context. Before that date, the MLHS accepted the advice of the Town of Comox to concentrate on Baybrook house, rather than Shakesides, having been informed that Baybrook was more suitable for conversion into a public nature house in the new public park. Demolition of Baybrook was postponed in late 2013 and the MLHS was granted permission to produce a proposal for using Baybrook for this purpose. At the time of these discussions, Shakesides had a sitting tenant paying rental to the Town and was considered to be in good condition.

In February 2015, despite professionally-produced renovation and business plans presented to the Town by the MLHS in the summer and fall of 2014, Comox Council voted to demolish both Baybrook and Shakesides. Baybrook was demolished in August 2015, but the intervention of the Attorney General of BC prevented the demolition of Shakesides, which is a trust property for which the Town of Comox is trustee. The house has very clear legal instructions and conditions pertaining to its public use, laid down by Mack Laing, and accepted by the Town when they accepted the trust funds gifted to them on his death, as stated in his Will.

After the demolition of Baybrook, the MLHS commissioned professionals to examine Shakesides, and having been assured that the building was sound, proceeded to gather support for its preservation as a public, heritage house, and for conversion of the house to a nature museum as stated in his Will. A nature house or museum would recognize the importance of nature and Mack Laing to all Canadians, and would be in accordance with his stated wishes in his Will and the legal documents he signed with the Town of Comox.

The MLHS continues to fight the Town of Comox, in BC Supreme Court and at its own expense, to prevent any variance to the Mack Laing Trust and the demotion of Shakesides.

As as result of filing numerous affidavits and over 2,000 pages of exhibits, in 2018, the MLHS was granted intervenor status by the BC Supreme Court. Under the terms of the Consent Order, signed by the Town of Comox and the Attorney General of BC, MLHS can present evidence in court, and “make full oral and written submissions” including, inter alia, submissions on the definition of the trust, whether the trust should be varied, on what terms the trust may be varied, and on alternate variations to the trust.”

Any changes in this Order has to be agreed upon by the two Parties, and MLHS. In effect, this Order gives MLHS standing in every way, except in name.

MLHS BUSINESS PLAN FOR SHAKESIDES

A plan that honours Mack Laing’s Will and Trust and the Bequest he left the Town of Comox

THE MACK LAING TRUST

In 1973, Hamilton Mack Laing deeded his property (now the Mack Laing Park) and house (Shakesides) to the Town of Comox with strict stipulations about public use and access. In his Will in 1982, he left the Town $45,000 to create a “natural history museum” in Shakesides. The Town accepted the “gift” but rented out Shakesides to a succession of tenants, thereby preventing it from being used by the public, or creating a museum. The following document package outlines the history of the Trust and the decisions made by the Town of Comox.

Notarized letter, dated September 26, 2014, from Alice Bullen, who was appointed by Comox Council “to look after” the interests of Mack Laing in his later years, after he had gifted the Town with the property known as Mack Laing Park: AliceBullenLetter

Memorandum of Agreement between Hamilton Mack Laing and the Town of Comox, September 19, 1973: HML MOA

Last Will and Testament of Hamilton Mack Laing – May 6, 1981: HML Will 1981

Last Will and Testament of Hamilton Mack Laing – March 1, 1982: HML Will 1982

Obituary

November 1988 issue of Picoides, the newsletter of the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, with an obituary and article about Mack Laing: Picoides2_2_1988